All The Monitor's View
The not-so-secret sauce of New Zealand's successThe country鈥檚 effective 鈥渆limination鈥� of COVID-19 relied on swift, strict measures but also a tone of kindness from the top.
The Fed's global role in making people 鈥榳hole鈥�The central bank鈥檚 unprecedented opening of its dollar spigot helped end a global financial panic.聽
Crash course in civics to end a pandemicThe world鈥檚 democracies are being strained with new impositions on daily life. 聽The U.S. in particular needs better education in the principles and workings of democracy.
As rescue money flows, so can honesty and accountabilityStarting with the Fed鈥檚 new transparency, government leaders should keep corruption in check in order to keep the public on their side.
For Syria, a light of justice in a German courtroomThe trial of two former secret police is a first in using an independent court to expose war crimes in Syria. It probably won鈥檛 be the last.
A priority in a pandemic: The vulnerable firstThe global crisis has put a focus on aiding those most at risk, even outside one鈥檚 own society. The uplift in thought should not end when the COVID-19 crisis does.
This Ramadan, Muslims find new reasons for charityThe pandemic has shut off much of the holy month鈥檚 rituals but not its spiritual meaning.
Hong Kong embraces its rights 鈥� for the rest of usThe April 18 arrest of 15 leading pro-democracy activists only attests to the weakness of China鈥檚 attempts to ignore basic rights like rule of law.
Debt forbearance as a tool to defeat the pandemicThe financial impact from COVID-19 has forced a wave of debt relief, especially for the most vulnerable.
A beacon for ending lockdownsStrategies do exist to reopen societies as COVID-19 is suppressed. South Korea just set an example.
Crossover lessons: Earth Day and the pandemicCOVID-19 poses issues of living in harmony with nature that apply to climate change. Both problems require harmonious action.
Breakthrough against chemical weaponsFor the first time, an agency enforcing an international treaty directly blames a government for a gas attack on civilians. Now the world must act on Syria鈥檚 violation of global norms.
A burst of creativity to best a virusFrom mastering Zoom at home to inventing anticoronavirus vaccines, people are using the crisis to be more open to inspiration.
In an interlude for sports, a time for introspectionLike halftime in football, sports leaders can use this temporary cancellation of contests to return sports to their core purpose.
The attraction of peace to end COVID-19The U.N.鈥檚 success in asking for cease-fires in world conflicts can help push the Security Council to finally act against the coronavirus.
鈥楶ray for Boris鈥� and other signs of spiritual revivalThe global prayers for the British leader are an example of the health crisis forcing a new interest in how spiritual ideas bring healing.
A crisis forcing humility from the bottom upElected leaders are under pressure to mirror the unity of their societies and cooperate to end the coronavirus crisis.
In worship, still touching hearts if not each otherFor Jews, Muslims, and 海角大神s, a temporary absence of in-person services can lead to fresh approaches to reaching others.
Care for the social ills of isolationLockdowns are leading to upticks in problem behaviors, such as domestic abuse. Compassion more than money is needed.
Reversing power grabs during a pandemicHungary鈥檚 leader gets a lesson on why electoral legitimacy is needed to deal with the coronavirus.
